Page 31 of Haunting Salem

“True. Thanks, for the help.” I placed my head to Kael’s chest and the unusual quietness of no rushing blood or beating heart or inhales were oddly comforting at the moment. “We have two locations left and then we’re done.”

“Exhausted yet?”

Yeah, in all honesty, I was. It wasn’t so much because I’d expended energy to talk to the dead, but the change in atmospheres from spot to spot was draining. “An hour is all I need to get through. I’ve got this.

We made our way over to where Jack and Owen were waiting for me and followed the trail back to the Witch House and The House of Seven Gables. The last two locations of the night were going to be the easiest, but the more interesting of the sites, at least to me anyway.

“So, Lucy’s little outburst, huh?” Kael glanced down at me. “That was a bit strange.”

Yeah, she hadn’t seemed herself at all. “I was going to ask you about it. Could it have been the witch’s influence?”

Kael shook his head. “I don’t know. Something, again, entity or ability turned her into a puppet. Sure, she used modern terms, but the message was generational and no less meaningful.”

“I don’t like that whatever it is, is using us and the dead,” I said. “I wish I could figure out why she’s isn’t in Gaspar’s book.”

“Maybe she sold her soul,” Kael said. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Trying to figure out the whys. Some Wiccan give their souls to their deities. It’s their way of showing loyalties or whatever. Anyway, if she has sold her soul, it would explain why she wasn’t in a death book. She would end up somewhere else. With someone else.”

I scrunched up my face. “Who would she sell her soul to and why?” Lucy might be a lot of things, but I didn’t see her ever fucking with something so dark, she’d use her humanity for a trade. It didn’t make sense.

“There are tons of deities that practice soul exchange. It’s not so farfetched. What she has to watch out for, is giving it to someone who can manipulate her into doing their bidding for evil.” Right... Not creepy at all.

“Well, Zane was going to look into her situation and let us know. I’m sure there is a logical explanation for everything.” I hooked my arm through his and changed the subject. “We’re almost done with tonight and then we’ll move on to our next adventure.”

Kael laughed. “I believe we’ve created a monster with you.”

I grinned. “Maybe you have.”

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